Neeltgen, an Anabaptist martyr, a woman of 75 years, was burned at the stake on 24 January 1570 at Maastricht, Dutch province of Limburg, together with her daughter Trijntgen. They had been arrested on 24 November 1569, and were severely tortured. Neeltgen and Trijntgen belonged to the small Mennonite congregation of Maastricht, of which Arent van Essen and his wife Ursel (Ursula) had suffered martyrdom on 10 January 1570. When Ursel was led to the execution place, Neeltgen had loudly called from the window of the prison, so that all the people gathered to observe the execution could hear: "Dear sister, contend manfully, for the crown of life is prepared for you." Neeltgen herself also died steadfast. The martyrdom of Neeltgen and Trijntgen, and of Arent van Essen and his wife is commemorated in the songs "Anhördt fründe Ersame," "Nun hört jhr Freundt ehrsamen," and "O Mensch, bedenck die kurtze Zeit," found in the old German hymnal, Ein schon gesangbüchlein, of about 1570.

Braght, Thieleman J. van. The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951: 844. Available online at: http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm.